Big Ben Confused at Steelers Offense, Matt Canada’s Play Calling

The Steelers’ offense never got off the ground on Sunday, mainly due to the inconsistencies of Kenny Pickett. Pickett missed open reads, became inaccurate, and bailed out of clean pockets too early more than once. Still, Pittsburgh had several questionable play calls from offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

While the Steelers put confidence behind Canada, not everyone thought he called a good game. Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who played one season under Canada, knew Pickett was off on Sunday. However, he saw little direction from Canada to help his struggling quarterback. Drawing on experience, Roethlisberger commented on his Footbahlin podcast that Randy Fichtner gave him plenty of options in the past. He did not see that from Canada.

“I remember with Coach Randy Fichtner, we always had like a go-to play,” Roethlisberger said on the podcast. “Just like, I’m a little off today. Maybe it was going no-huddle where like I was calling plays that I felt comfortable with or like two or three plays that are just like a ball out of your hand. Maybe it’s a screen or where I throw a ball to a wide receiver, and he breaks a 10-yarder. Let your playmakers make plays.”

RELATED: Saunders: Can’t Blame Matt Canada for This One

Roethlisberger makes some interesting points here. I will point out that most of Canada’s questionable play calls came on those “weighty downs” as Mike Tomlin calls them. For example, the fourth-and-4 play call where the team runs four verticals with no outlet option and no defenders in conflict against quarters. That is a genuinely pitiful play call. The Steelers did not do many manufactured touches, such as screens, in the passing game, so that could be what Roethlisberger dislikes so much here.

But the stats showcase that these struggles might just be historically bad. Canada has accomplished some impressive marks. For one, the team has not scored over 20 points in 27 of his 36 games as offensive coordinator. They have scored more than 30 points just twice over those 36 games.

Even more, in his first 36 games with the team, the Steelers have had zero games over 400 yards with Canada at the helm. That’s not just bad; it’s horrific. The last time the team cracked the 400-yard mark was in their wild-card loss to the Cleveland Browns during the 2020 season.

Those are just some of the stats that illustrate how the team has struggled under the tutelage of Canada. Something needs to improve quickly if the Steelers do not want to dig themselves too deep of a hole early in the season.